Bloc

/blɑːk/ noun

Definition

A group of countries or political parties united for a common purpose or shared interests.

Etymology

From French 'bloc' meaning a block or lump, borrowed from Dutch 'blok'. It came to mean a unified political group in the late 1800s, especially used during the Cold War to describe East and West blocs.

Kelly Says

The term 'bloc' became essential vocabulary during the Cold War—the Soviet Bloc versus the Western Bloc divided the world, and people literally weren't allowed to cross from one bloc to the other without risking their lives.

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